STUDIO BAS SALA
Green fingers and two left hands
We are increasingly experiencing more extreme weather. Longer periods of drought and heat are alternating with intense rainstorms, during which large amounts of water fall in a short space of time. These changes have a direct impact on our living environment and present challenges for residents, businesses and governments. How can we ensure that our cities, towns and villages remain pleasant, healthy and liveable places to live, work and connect with others in the future?
The planting brought not only color and coolness in the summer, but also structure and a greater sense of security. It served as a separation between the motorway and the square. Where there was previously mainly stone, something now grew that attracts people and keeps them on the Evenaarplein.
We built three wooden structures with the residents. All objects are painted in cheerful colors and feature greenery. The Yellow Oasis is a seating area with integrated planters. It is a lovely spot to sit amidst the greenery, rest, chat, or pick an apple. The Deck with Gate is a wooden deck with a gate that adds height and scale to the square. People sat, played, ate, and even held a fashion show here. The deck divided the square into different zones. Additionally, it ensured that the square was no longer crossed by scooters and cyclists. During the summer months, the Jeu de Boules court was played extensively by local residents.
Being present and building together
An important starting point for this approach is the concept of the sponge city. A sponge city is an urban environment that collects and retains as much rainwater as possible, gradually releasing it back into the surrounding environment. Like a sponge, it absorbs water when rainfall is abundant and makes that water available during drier periods. In this context, the term city should not be understood literally as referring only to a city, but rather to the built environment as a whole.
By collecting rainwater locally, pressure on the sewer system is reduced, while more water remains available for trees, plants and other forms of urban greenery. At the same time, greening helps cool the environment, strengthen biodiversity and make public spaces more pleasant. Examples include green squares, green façades, water-retention features such as rain gardens and swales, rain barrels, and areas where rainwater can be temporarily stored.
The sponge city is therefore more than a technical solution to flooding. It represents an integrated vision for a climate-resilient living environment in which rainwater, greenery, design and human activity come together.
Guided by this vision, Studio Bas Sala has developed a wide range of products, projects, workshops and design tools in recent years. These solutions make it possible to implement climate adaptation at different scales, from an individual garden or small neighbourhood initiative to a larger public square or urban water management system. The focus is not only on technical performance, but also on how people experience and use these solutions and how they become part of their everyday surroundings.
A game and a few picnic tables
We developed the Placemaking Game for a good, balanced start. It involves residents, policymakers, and urban developers in a place. While playing the game, ideas and ambitions are collected and immediately developed into actions. This way, you can get started right away after playing the Placemaking Game! In early 2024, we played the game using the Evenaarplein as a case study. It is a centrally located spot in the middle of the neighborhood, but very stony and cold. The initial needs quickly became clear: more color and an inviting place for social interaction. To kick off the placemaking process, we painted picnic tables in cheerful colors together with residents and policymakers.
The Smart Rain Barrel
One of the innovations developed by Studio Bas Sala is the Smart Rain Barrel. This contemporary rain barrel goes a step further than a traditional one. While a conventional rain barrel collects and stores rainwater, the Smart Rain Barrel can also respond proactively to weather forecasts.
The Smart Rain Barrel is equipped with a tap that can be operated automatically and remotely via the internet. Multiple rain barrels can also be connected to form a network linked to local weather forecasts. Based on this information, the water levels in the barrels are regulated automatically. This makes it possible to better match the available storage capacity to expected rainfall and water demand during dry periods.
When a prolonged dry spell is forecast, it is important to retain as much rainwater as possible. The collected water can then be used to irrigate plants and green spaces. One example is the Cloud Smart Rain Barrel, which releases water during periods of severe drought. Conversely, when heavy rainfall is forecast, the system can partially empty the barrels in advance. This creates additional capacity to collect new rainwater when the storm arrives.
This intelligent approach to water management helps make more efficient use of rainwater. Instead of being discharged unnecessarily, water is retained for when it is needed, while storage capacity is freed up when substantial rainfall is expected. The Smart Rain Barrel therefore helps reduce pressure on the sewer system and increase local rainwater storage capacity.
What makes this solution particularly interesting is that individual rain barrels can become part of a larger system. When multiple barrels are installed throughout a neighbourhood or city, they form a network of small-scale water storage units. Together, these facilities can contribute to better distribution and use of rainwater. In this way, a relatively simple installation becomes part of a broader climate adaptation strategy.
A game and a few picnic tables
We developed the Placemaking Game for a good, balanced start. It involves residents, policymakers, and urban developers in a place. While playing the game, ideas and ambitions are collected and immediately developed into actions. This way, you can get started right away after playing the Placemaking Game! In early 2024, we played the game using the Evenaarplein as a case study. It is a centrally located spot in the middle of the neighborhood, but very stony and cold. The initial needs quickly became clear: more color and an inviting place for social interaction. To kick off the placemaking process, we painted picnic tables in cheerful colors together with residents and policymakers.
Green fingers and two left hands
Step by step, the square blossomed starting in the spring of 2025. Greening ran like a common thread through the entire placemaking process. Together with residents, we planted dozens of plants in planters, removed paving stones, and watered the greenery during the hot days. A beautiful sea of flowers in red, orange, and pink brightened up the square.
The planting brought not only color and coolness in the summer, but also structure and a greater sense of security. It served as a separation between the motorway and the square. Where there was previously mainly stone, something now grew that attracts people and keeps them on the Evenaarplein.
We built three wooden structures with the residents. All objects are painted in cheerful colors and feature greenery. The Yellow Oasis is a seating area with integrated planters. It is a lovely spot to sit amidst the greenery, rest, chat, or pick an apple. The Deck with Gate is a wooden deck with a gate that adds height and scale to the square. People sat, played, ate, and even held a fashion show here. The deck divided the square into different zones. Additionally, it ensured that the square was no longer crossed by scooters and cyclists. During the summer months, the Jeu de Boules court was played extensively by local residents.
Green fingers and two left hands
Step by step, the square blossomed starting in the spring of 2025. Greening ran like a common thread through the entire placemaking process. Together with residents, we planted dozens of plants in planters, removed paving stones, and watered the greenery during the hot days. A beautiful sea of flowers in red, orange, and pink brightened up the square.
The planting brought not only color and coolness in the summer, but also structure and a greater sense of security. It served as a separation between the motorway and the square. Where there was previously mainly stone, something now grew that attracts people and keeps them on the Evenaarplein.
We built three wooden structures with the residents. All objects are painted in cheerful colors and feature greenery. The Yellow Oasis is a seating area with integrated planters. It is a lovely spot to sit amidst the greenery, rest, chat, or pick an apple. The Deck with Gate is a wooden deck with a gate that adds height and scale to the square. People sat, played, ate, and even held a fashion show here. The deck divided the square into different zones. Additionally, it ensured that the square was no longer crossed by scooters and cyclists. During the summer months, the Jeu de Boules court was played extensively by local residents.
Green fingers and two left hands
Step by step, the square blossomed starting in the spring of 2025. Greening ran like a common thread through the entire placemaking process. Together with residents, we planted dozens of plants in planters, removed paving stones, and watered the greenery during the hot days. A beautiful sea of flowers in red, orange, and pink brightened up the square.
The planting brought not only color and coolness in the summer, but also structure and a greater sense of security. It served as a separation between the motorway and the square. Where there was previously mainly stone, something now grew that attracts people and keeps them on the Evenaarplein.
We built three wooden structures with the residents. All objects are painted in cheerful colors and feature greenery. The Yellow Oasis is a seating area with integrated planters. It is a lovely spot to sit amidst the greenery, rest, chat, or pick an apple. The Deck with Gate is a wooden deck with a gate that adds height and scale to the square. People sat, played, ate, and even held a fashion show here. The deck divided the square into different zones. Additionally, it ensured that the square was no longer crossed by scooters and cyclists. During the summer months, the Jeu de Boules court was played extensively by local residents.
Neighborhood party as both conclusion and starting point
